Thank you, Ciao! for my second Short and Good award...!. Also on Dooyoo as xBorgx
Thank you, Ciao! for my second Short and Good award...!. Also on Dooyoo as xBorgx
Member since:16.08.2001
Reviews:262
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At 3210 feet (977m), Scafell Pike is one of only four 'three-thousanders' (mountains over 3000 feet) in England. It is also the highest mountain in England. Not too grand a height, when you think of the Alps of Switzerland, France and the like - or even closer to home Scotland - but if you ever do scale this mountain, believe you me, you will know that you have climbed a mountain!
Scafell Pike is situated in the mid to southern end of the English Lake District. Millions flock here every year and walking in general has become more popular over the last few years. It is nestled between other grand mountains, with equally grand names, such
as Great Gable and Pillar - names that spur on thoughts of adventure and action.
Popular routes to this mountain are from Wasdale Head, Borrowdale, Eskdale and Great Langdale. These villages and areas are easily reached by car. Each walk is not an easy feat for the novice walker and I would not recommend that a novice attempt this mountain unless they are with a skilled walker and map reader and unless they are pretty fit. Better to try a few lesser heights at first, such as Loughrigg near Ambleside. Inexperienced people have attempted the 'Pike' and inexperienced people have perished there. So it is not to be taken lightly.
I first climbed Scafell Pike in early 1994, with a friend. We were both 'quite' experienced, but that day we were planning to climb nearby Great End. It was an adventure though! We set out from Wasdale Head. It was cold, but clear, however as we reached roughly the 2000 feet mark the mist rolled in and somehow, we went wrong. Ask any walker and he will tell you how this can sometimes happen. There were no GPS to help us in those days - even though it is not that long ago, no satellites in the sky to tell us exactly where we were.
We continued upwards and found ourselves on a ridge as the mist began to clear. Great End did not seem to be there. Someone had moved it! But we soon realised, though, that we had missed Great End totally and were heading straight for Scafell Pike! It was snowy under foot and this snow was becoming harder the higher we climbed. We found ourselves in a col where the only way was upwards to the Pike. Unfortunately, this way was thick with very hard snow, snow which was like ten inch thick glass. We did not have crampons or an ice axe (but believe you me, I always have them now in snow!), so we had to 'very carefully,' almost tiptoe to the top without falling…
And to fall would mean to plunge down the side of a steep mountain, to broken bones and probably death! The struggle continued, for what seemed forever, we found other foot steps in the snow and followed those, but they were slippy too. The coldness gripped us, numbing every exposed part of our bodies. I became aware of my own existence then, and I have only ever had a handful of other occasions where I have felt scared on a hill or mountain.
But we got there in the end… adrenaline rush over, the land levelled, then the snow softened… and we were on the highest mountain in England, the roof of our country. It is an extreme joy for a climber to have scaled a high mountain, especially one in his own country. You feel … well, on top of the world, really…
Since then I have climbed it all weather and from several other routes. The Great Langdale route is quite a strenuous way. This year (2007) I climbed it with a group from Borrowdale, via the Corridor Route and would highly recommend this way!
From the top, on a good day, you can see for miles around. Just about every other fell in the Lake District, plus the lakes of Windermere, Derwent Water, and The Isle of Man (if you are lucky).
Now, I must tell you about what to use if you ever decide to go 'fell walking.' Importantly, you need good boots and waterproof jacket and pants. Then you need sandwiches, liquid and a ruck sack to carry it all in. A good compass and a map, perhaps even a good walker's guidebook, like a Wainwright as well. These are the basics and these are essential. If you are planning walking in winter, best to have crampons and ice axe if you are going to venture high up. (Practice with them first!).If you want to go rock climbing - ask someone else… I don't do that, just too scary for my liking!
I would have to say Scafell Pike is one of my favourites and if anyone were to ask, Hey, fancy doing the Pike this weekend? I would usually say, Yes…
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Good review. I've just "re-discovered" country walking, especially as I'm lucky enough to live very near to the Peak District. I've had some very happy holidays in the Lake District and will definitely by returning!
Bollinger28 25.08.2008 09:38
Rather you than me...but well done for climbing it so many times. Lexy
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